Programs & Projects

The North Asia Program

The China and East Asia Program

The China and East Asia Program conducts research on the politics and foreign policy of China and its immediate neighbours in Northeast Asia: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and the Korean peninsula. The program is renowned for its particular focus on China’s domestic politics and how this helps to shape its external behaviour. From 2020, the Institute’s extensive research on Southeast Asia – including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Myanmar – is now incorporated in a dedicated Southeast Asia Program. Each Program also commissions work by other scholars on the broader region. To complement their written research, Lowy Institute experts hold a robust series of dialogues and events on the politics of the region, independently and in partnership with other organisations.

Photo: Jung Yeon-Je-Pool/Getty Images

Experts
Latest publications
News and media
Comparing China and the Kaiser's Germany (part 1): Similarities
This two-part series examines the frequent comparison between contemporary China and pre-1914 Wilhelmine Germany. A host of commentators have made this comparison in the past few…
China links: Cyber, Garry Locke, water, Kumming, drug smuggling and more
The US$62 billion project to transfer water from China's south to its more arid north would be rendered irrelevant if one-third of buildings in Beijing could collect more…
'The Act of Killing' in a democratic Indonesia
In the Western press, critics have responded with almost unanimous enthusiasm to the documentary film The Act of Killing, which could win an Academy Award on Sunday. One notable…
Indonesia: Punching below its weight
In a new Lowy Institute Analysis paper launched today, Dr Dave McRae argues that Indonesia is unlikely to become a significantly more influential international actor in the…
US position hardens on China's nine-dashed line
In January 2013, senior US Navy intelligence officer Captain James Fanell described China's maritime strategy and ambitions as 'hegemonic' and aggressive, and said China 'bullies…
Indonesia-Philippines border deal presages more united ASEAN South China Sea stance
At least one long-running maritime border dispute in Southeast Asia is heading towards peaceful settlement. On Monday, the Indonesian and Philippine foreign ministers announced…
More talk than walk: Indonesia as a foreign policy actor
Analyses
More talk than walk: Indonesia as a foreign policy actor
In a new Lowy Institute Analysis, Australian National University visiting fellow Dr Dave McRae argues that Indonesia is unlikely to become a significantly…
China links: North Korea, Afghanistan, public opinion, the pivot, Super Mario and more
Beijing is 'exploring whether to change tactics' in its relationship with North Korea.    Social security and corruption are the biggest concerns in China, according to the three…
Meet Indonesia's middle class (part 3): Votes and voices
This is the third in a four-part series on Indonesia's growing middle class. Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here. In Indonesia, the word for 'vote' is the same as the word for …
Meet Indonesia's middle class (part 2): Jakarta's two cities
This is the second in a four-part series on Indonesia's growing middle class. Part 1 is here. The middle class increasingly inhabits an alternative Jakarta of suburban housing…